Fire-extinguishing device

ABSTRACT

A fire-extinguishing composition and a fire extinguisher device for use thereof are presented. Said fire-extinguishing composition comprises a composition having the following components in approximately the proportions by weight as indicated:   D R A W I N G

United States Patent [1 Hattori et al.

[45] Nov. 11, 1975 1 1 FIRE-EXTINGUISHING DEVICE [75] Inventors: Yasuzo Hattori, Urawa; Jiro Niizuma, Tokyo, both of Japan Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 311.905, Dec. 4, 1972. Pat. No.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Decv 9, 1971 Japan 46-99043 [52] U.S. C1. 169/51; 169/58; 169/65; 169/28 [51] Int. Cl. A62C 25/00 [58] Field of Search 169/44, 47, 57, 58, 65, 169/28, 26, 84, 35, 51

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,926,762 9/1933 Ceaton 169/58 2,764,245 9/1956 Gutterman 169/26 2,857,971 10/1958 Ferris 169/26 2,917,116 12/1959 Wyant..... 169/26 X 3.710.855 l/1973 Osorio 169/26 Primary Eraminer-John J. Love Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlew and Tuttle [57] ABSTRACT A fire-extinguishing composition and a fire extinguisher device for use thereof are presented. Said fireextinguishing composition comprises a composition having the following components in approximately the proportions by weight as indicated:

Burnt alum 7.1) 7.5 parts by weight Ammonium carbonate 6.1) 6.2 Sodium chloride 3.5 4.0 Calcium chloride 4.0 4.5 Anhydrous sodium carbonate 2,0 -3.()

Water glass 250 Calcium carbonate 1.11- 1.5

Magnesium carbonate 1.1) 1.5 Sodium bicarbonate 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11,1975 Sheetlof2 3,918,526

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,918,526

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING DEVICE This is a division of application Ser. No. 31 1,905 filed Dec. 4, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,843,525.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a fire-extinguishing composition and a fire extinguisher for the application thereof. The invention also relates to a method of extinguishing fires, as well as to a method of making a fire extinguisher.

In the conventional methods of fire extinguishment, chemicals are used in some cases in addition to water in order to stop the burning. Most of these chemicals extinguish the fire mainly by producing gases, such as carbon dioxide, etc. However, these methods of fire-extingushing have the disadvantage of the danger that such chemicals as ammonium chloride, carbon dioxide, or their mixtures, etc., are harmful to the firemen and other persons who may be contacted by such gases or chemicals in vaporous form.

One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a disaster-preventing fire-extinguishing composition which is suitable for storage and which extinguishes fires with a relatively small amount of stored water or other water from such sources as rivers or lakes during unexpected earthquakes or other like disasters, when the regular water supply may be cut off. It is an object of the invention to provide a fire-extinguishing compo sition which can extinguish fires at the initial stage of the fire incident by the application of the said fireextinguishing composition. It is a further object to provide a method and device for fire extinguishment.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION According to the present invention, three components, namely: calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate, in addition to ammonium carbonate that produces much more gas, are incorporated into the fire-extinguishing composition. In this manner, a stronger action of fire extinguishment is obtained without producing any harmful gas which might be injurious to human beings or livestock, or which might cause damage to clothes, furniture or other personal property threatened by fire.

A special feature of the fire-extinguishing composition of the present invention is explained in the following illustration of a fire-extinguishing composition according to the present invention as follows:

Burnt alum Ammonium carbonate Sodium chloride Calcium chloride Anhydrous sodium carbonate Water glass 1 Calcium carbonate Magnesium carbonate Sodium bicarbonate Water parts by weight Total 2 tion, respectively, upon the addition of sodium bicarbonate, through chemical reactions such as the following:

CaCO ZNaHCO 2H O 2 Ca(HCO 2NaOH H CO MgCOg ZNaHCO 2H 'O t Mg(I-1CO 2NaOH H CO l The NaOH produced in Reaction (I) acts as a material for covering burning articles to stop the extension of the fire. These reactions become vigorous upon heating, and when the reaction mixture is heated at about 60 C, both Ca(HCO and Mg(HCO release carbon dioxide readily along with the production of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, respectively, according to the following reactions:

The composition illustrated above is filled and sealed into a container which is adapted to break into small pieces instantaneously upon heating at a temperature below C. When this composition is heated at 60 70C,'carbon dioxide is produced in two steps according to Reaction (II) and (III). This, along with the generated water vapor, raises the gas pressure inside the container, and results in a sudden expansion of the volume of gases within the container, thus causing the container to burst. The chemicals within the container are sprayed out in every direction. The CO acts as the main fire-extinguishing agent, while the viscous aluminum silicate compounds generated from the water glass, alum, etc., which are the components of the fireextinguishing composition, cooperate with other viscous material, such as sodium dioxide, calcium chloride, etc., to form a fire-proof membrane or covering over the articles which have not yet burned. This stops the extension of the fire and burning. In other words, it is the covering action of these viscous materials and the fire-extinguishing power of the CO gas which works together to effect fire-extinguishing and fire preventing in a surprisingly efficient manner. Moreover, it is to be observed that the CaCO and MlgCO which result from Reaction (III) produce CO gas continuously by repeating Reaction (I) and (II) as long as NaHCO exists in the system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The construction and positioning of the fire-extinguisher device of the present invention is explained by the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fire-extinguisher of the present invention installed in a room of a dwelling or other structure;

FIG. 2-A is an exploded view of the fire extinguisher showing the several parts of the apparatus; and

FIG. 2-B is a vertical sectional view of the fire extinguisher apparatus.

In the drawings, the numerical symbols are identified as follows: (1) is the container which holds the fire extinguishing composition (2) of the present invention. (3) is the supporting frame for the fire extinguisher. (4) represents the cushion material against which the container (1) is held by the spring band (5 There is an air space (6) between the cover (7) and the container (1) which holds the fire-extinguishing composition (2).

As shown in FIGS. 2-A and 2-B, there is a specially strengthened glass container (1) in the form of a cylinder, vessel, or some other type, which breaks into small pieces as soon as the container is heated at an elevated temperature below 100C. The container is filled with a fire-extinguishing solution (2) prepared according to the present invention and then the container is sealed. Said container is fixed to a supporting frame (3) by means of spring bands (5) with cushion material (4) as interpositioner, and then covered with a cover (7) made of synthetic resin, such as hard polyethylene, etc. If the fire-extinguisher of the present invention is fixed in place somewhere near combustible materials, for example, on the ceiling (b) of a kitchen room (a), the said container (1) bursts into small pieces through the action of the spring (sudden heating and cooling) as the said spring is heated by the burning cover (7 in a fire accident. At the same time, the fire-extinguishing solution originally contained in the said container spreads, e.g., in form of a mist, over the burning articles by means of the gases generated, and thus exerts a strong fire-extinguishing action. Moreover, the number of fire-extinguishers to be used according to the present invention, in this case, is determined on the ability of the fire extinguisher to put out fires. One extinguisher for about every 7 10 m is preferable, for example.

In another embodiment, the fire-extinguisher of the present invention is also advantageously hung 10 cm below the ceiling, or fixed on a wall at a place about 10 cm apart from the ceiling. In any case, it is essential that the fire-extinguisher apparatus be firmly fixed in place on the wall or ceiling.

This invention is further illustrated in detail by the following examples. However, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by them.

EXAMPLE 1 A fire-extinguisher having a glass container was filled with 200 g of the following fire-extinguishing composition:

Burnt alum Ammonium carbonate Sodium chloride 7 parts by weight 4. Calcium chloride 4.

Anhydrous sodium carbonate Water glass 2 Calcium carbonate Magnesium carbonate Sodium bicarbonate Water Total EXAMPLE 2 To illustrate the effect of the concentrated solution of fire-extinguishing composition, according to the present invention, the same solution as in Example 1 was made, but the concentrated fire-extinguishing solution was diluted to times by volume and every 200 g of it was packed into a vinyl bag. When one of the said 200 g-bags of the fire-extinguishing composition of the present invention was applied to the fire at its strongest stage (13-155 sec. after igntion), the fire was quickly extinguished. In contrast, 4 to 5 of the 200 gwater-vinyl bags was necessary to extinguish the fire at the same conditions.

Estimation of the efficiency of fire-extinguishment of the fire-extinguishing composition of this invention is made according to the following equations:

(A) Fire extinguishment efficiency of strong, concentrated fire-extinguishing solution:

Amt. of water needed for fire-extinquishment Amt. of diluted fireextinguishing solution needed for fire-extinguishment X degree of dilution Amt. of water needed for fire-extinguishment Amt. of diluted fire-extinguishing solution needed for fire-extinguishment 4-5 (for 100 times diluted solution) The optimal degree of dilution depends upon the kinds of the burning articles and the environments.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A fire-extinguisher for protecting a building, comprising a breakable container having a gas generating composition therein, sealing means for closing said container and making it gas-tight, and holding and fixing means including a spring encircling at least a portion of the periphery of said container for holding it in a fixed position on the building.

2. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said container comprises a breakable glass cylinder.

3. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 2, wherein said container is made of a glass which is breakable at approximately 100C.

4. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said spring comprises a metal coil spring.

5. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 1, including a support frame adapted to be secured to the building, said container comprising a cylindrical container, said spring having each end secured to said support frame.

6. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 5, wherein said holding and firing means includes two springs arranged at respective ends of said container and including a support frame, each end of each of said springs being secured to said support frame and extending around a respective end of said container and including a cushion disposed between said container and said support frame.

7. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 6, including a cover enclosing said container and secured to said support frame. 

1. A fire-extinguisher for protecting a building, comprising a breakable container having a gas generating composition therein, sealing means for closing said container and making it gas-tight, and holding and fixing means including a spring encircling at least a portion of the periphery of said container for holding it in a fixed position on the building.
 2. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said container comprises a breakable glass cylinder.
 3. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 2, wherein said container is made of a glass which is breakable at approximately 100*C.
 4. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 1, wherein said spring comprises a metal coil spring.
 5. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 1, including a support frame adapted to be secured to the building, said container comprising a cylindrical container, said spring having each end secured to said support frame.
 6. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 5, wherein said holding and firing means includes two springs arranged at respective ends of said container and including a support frame, each end of each of said springs being secured to said support frame and extending around a respective end of said container and including a cushion disposed between said container and said support frame.
 7. A fire-extinguisher according to claim 6, including a cover enclosing said container and secured to said support frame. 